Adjustable bracket for sliding table top



April 10, 1962 K. J. DRAXLER 3,029,113

ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR SLIDING TABLE TOP Filed May 27, 1960 ni'gd/ gIIIIIIIIII KA RL J. DRAXLE/P,

IN V EN TOR.

l '1 I ATTORN K iinited rates i atent 3,929,113 ADJUSTABLE BRAGIET FORSLIDING TABLE TOP Karl E. Draxler, 3231 Kelton Ave, Los Angeles, Calif.Filed May 27, 196i Ser. No. 32,426 6 Claims. (Cl. 311-35) The inventionrelates to an adjustable bracket for a sliding table top and moreparticularly relates to improvements in the sliding table topconstruction of my Patent 2,307,396 issued January 5, 1943, in thesliding table top bracket of my Patent 2,659,641 issued November 17,1953, and in the adjustable bracket of my Patent 2,723,891, issuedNovember 15, 1955.

An object of the present invention is to provide a unitary brackethaving an adjustable bracket arm which operates on a different principlethan heretofore, and which is cheaper to manufacture.

This is accomplished by providing a unitary bracket, preferably in theform of a metal stamping, wherein the junction of the forward end of thebase and the offset portion leading to the bracket arm serves as a kneeor pivot point, with fastening means in the bracket adjacent the knee,and a fastening means of an adjustable height at the outer end of thebase to tilt the bracket arm to an adjustable spacing with the table topto thereby accommodate sub-tops of different thicknesses whilemaintaining proper tolerance between the felt pad covering on thesub-top and the underside of the table top.

For further details of the invention, reference may be made to thedrawings wherein FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a sliding tabletop having an array of brackets according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one side of thetable, showing the bracket in one position of adjustment for a sub-topof certain thickness.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the bracket in anotherposition of adjustment for a thinner sub-top.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket with both sets of fasteningmeans removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable fastening means for theouter end of the base, as also shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the table top 1, as in my formerpatents, slides on a sub-top 2 mounted on a pedestral 3 or the like,having a base 4 suitably fastened by screws or the like indicated at 5.

The table top 1 is illustrated as being rectangular although othershapes may be employed. On the underside of table top 1 are arranged,centrally on each side, one or more brackets, four being shown at 6, 7,8 and 9. In some cases, the opposite brackets like 6 and 8, as shown,may be shorter than brackets like 7 and 9, the latter being on thelonger dimension of the table top 1 as shown in FIG. 6, each bracketlike 6 to 9, as indicated at 11 is a metal stamping having a somewhattriangular base 11, a lateral offset 12 and an elongated bracket arm 13,and lengthwise through them is a channel, see FIG. 8. The bracket isstamped to provide an oifset hollow rib or channel indicated at 14 whichextends the full length of and along the middle of base 11, offset 12and bracket arm 13.

The base 11, oifset 12 and bracket arm 13 are a unitary member, havingbody portions extending laterally on opposite sides of raised rib 14.The body of base 11 has an extended flat surface to lit the fiatunder-side of the $329,113 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 ice table top and arm13 has an extended flat surface to bear against the sub-top 2.

Base 11 at opposite sides thereof, has openings 15 and 16 each toreceive a screw as indicated at 17, or 18, in FiGS..3 and 4. The outerend of base 11 has a slot-like opening 19 which leads to and intersectsa somewhat circular opening it} in the raised rim or bead 21. Bead 21has an outer sloping wall 22 and a rounded end or terminal portion 23which defines the circular opening 20. The end 23 fits crescent shapedannular notch 24 around the head of a screw 25, providing a swivelcoupling between the head of screw 25 and base 11. The sloping wall 22provides a bearing surface for the outer half of notch 24, with end 23having loose engagement with the inner half of notch 24 so that base 11can tilt with respect to the axis of screw 25. When the screw 25 isscrewed out, the inner half of notch 24 engages rounded end 23 to pushthe base 11 outwardly. Base 11 is thus forced in or out as the screw 25is screwed in or out. The rounded end 23 is offset outwardly from theplane of base 11 by one half the height of notch 24, so that the base ofthe head of screw 25 is fiush with the inner surface of base 11 as shownin FIG. 5, whereby the base 11 will be in contact with the table top 1when the screw 25 is screwed all the way in the table top.

The outer end 29 of the base 11 slidingly receives the notch 24 in thescrew 25 whereby the outer end of base 11 is supported at a heightdepending on the depth to which the screw 25 is screwed into the tabletop, it being illustrated in FIG. 3 as screwed all the way in with theouter end 29 of base 11 flush with the underside of table top 1 whereasin FIG. 4 the outer end 29 of base 11 is separated from the table top 1by space 36, due to the fact that screw 25 is not screwed all the wayhome with the result that the outer end 30 of the bracket arm in FIG. 4is closer to the table top in the case of the thinner sub-top 31indicated in FIG. 4. This action results from the fact that the junctureof the base 11 with the upright 12 as indicated at 37 serves as a kneeor pivotal support about which the base 11 and the bracket arm 13 pivotunder action of the screw 25. This pivotal action is facilitated by theloose swivel coupling between the portions 22 and 23 of the base and thenotch 24 in the head of the screw 25.

The sub-top 2 or 31 has a felt pad 32 or 33 respectively glued to it asdescribed in my former patents. In channel 14, against the inner side ofoifset 12 is a rubber bumper 34, to receive and cushion the edge of thesub-top.

Various modifications may be made in the invention without departingfrom the spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sliding table top device comprising a relatively stationary sub-topand a set of spaced brackets fo the underside of the sliding table top,each of said brackets comprising a unitary metal member having a base,an offset downwardly extending from said base and a bracket armprojecting laterally from the lower end of said offset, the junction ofeach base with its offset acting :as a pivotal support for adjusting thegap between the table top and the bracket, and each of said bases havingfastening means for securing the same to the table top and includingmeans on the outer end of the base for adjusting the spacing between theouter end of the base and the table top, to pivotally adjust the baseabout its said pivotal support, to thereby adjust the position of thebracket arm with respect to the table top.

2. An adjustable bracket for a sliding table top, said bracketcomprising a base merging into an olfset merging into a bracket armextending offset from and substantially parallel to said base, thejunction of said base with said offset acting as a pivot for adjustingthe gap between the table top and said arm, said base having fasteningmeans adjacent said pivot for fastening said base to the table top, saidbase having an outer end having a rim defining a circular opening, saidbase having a marginal slot opening into said opening, a screw having ahead fitting in said opening, said head having an annular recessembracing said rim and forming therewith a swivel coupling.

3. An adjustable bracket according to claim 2, said rim being raised androtatably supporting said head in position With the under surface of thebase of said head in substantially the same plane as under surfaceotsaid base of said bracket.

4. An adjustable bracket according to claim 2, said base, said offsetand said arm being in the form of a unitary metal stamping having ahollow rib extending lengthwise therethrough.

5. An adjustable bracket according to claim 2, said base, said oifsetand said arm being in the form of a unitary member having a hollow ribextending lengthwise therethrough, and a resilient cushion fitting insaid rib against said offset.

6. An adjustable bracket for a sliding table top, said bracketcomprising a metal stamping having a base merging into an offset, andthe latter merging into a bracket arm extending offset from andsubstantially parallel to said base, said bracket arm, said oifset andsaid base being a unitary member having a longitudinal central ribforming a channel extending lengthwise through said bracket arm, saidoffset and said base, said base at opposite sides thereof havingapertures for fastening means adjacent said oliset, said base having anouter end having a circular opening, a screw having a head having arecess rotatabl-y fitting said opening, said base having an entranceslot admitting said head of said screw into said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

